Nail cleaning device having means for holding and expelling applicator pads



Nov. 19, 1957 G EVEN 2,813,289

NAIL CLEANING DEVICE HAVING MEANS FOR HOLDING EXPELLING APPLICATOR PADS Filed Sept. 18, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Nov. 19, 1957 Filed Sept. 18, 1951 G. EVEN NAIL CLEANING DEVICE HAVING MEANS FOR HOLDING EXPELLING APPLICATOR PADS ill-IN ii-n i,

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORQ NAIL CLEANING DEVICE HAVING MEANS FOR HOLDENG AND EXPELLING APPLICATOR PADS Georges Even, Paris, France Application September 18, 1951, Serial No. 247,029

Claims priority, application France June 2, 1951 4 Claims. (Cl. 15-134) The present invention has for its object a device for the care of nails, permitting the removal and the replacement of the damaged nail varnish. This device, designed for accommodation in ladies handbags, or for use on the dressing table, juxtaposes under a compact volume the means required for these operations.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a device which is capable of dispensing a variety of toilet materials at the option of the user.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a device for dispensing individual absorbent pads or the like as the user requires.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a device capable of such dispensation which is both small and portable.

These and other objects and advantages are attained by the present invention, various novel features of which will appear from the following description together with the accompanying drawings which disclose embodiments of the invention, and will be more particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a longitudinal section of the device according to the invention representing the latter in non-operative position;

Fig. 2 is an identical section of a modification;

Fig. 3 is an elevational view of the device illustrated in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a view showing the same in operating position, for removing the damaged nail varnish;

Fig. 5 is a view representing the device in position for application of a new coat of varnish;

Fig. 6 represents the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 2 in position for removing the varnish;

Fig. 7 is a view representing the same modification in position for application of a fresh coat of varnish;

Fig. 8 is a longitudinal section of the cartridge refill;

Fig. 9 is a tranverse section along a line IX-IX of Fig. 8.

According to the form of embodiment illustrated in Fig. l, the device comprises a base 1 provided with a blind hole 2, in which is held the end of a tube 3 set in the base 1 by the expansion force of an expansible convex washer 4 abutting against a flat ring 5, integrating thus the tube 3 to the base 1.

A longitudinal slot 6 extends nearly along the full length of the tube 3. This tube 3 is capped by a tubular member 7 integral with a flange 8 bearing on the base 1 through the medium of a ring 9, made of resilient material and forming a joint.

A sleeve 11 is fixed to the base 1; this sleeve comprises a threaded part at 12 and it is designed so that it engages the tubular member 7 through the medium of the flange 8. Ring 9, base i and sleeve 11 form, therefore, closure means closing one open end of the tube 7. The tubular member 7 is covered by a cap 13, and one of its ends is threaded externally at 14, the other end being provided nited States Patetit with a force fitted end-piece 15, on the base of which is mounted a seal .16, made of resilient material, which presses on the end 17 of the tubular member 7. A helical groove 18 is provided in the inner wall of the latter, which is terminated by a tapered opening 19.

A piston 20 is operatively mounted in the tube 3; a pin 21 is driven radially into the piston, extending through the slot 6 of the tube 3 and slidingly engaging the helical groove 18 of the member 7.

A bore 22 is provided in the piston 20, forming a passageway for air and a solvent.

A stack of circular or polygonal, short members 23, made of porous or fibrous material designed to be impregnated with varnish solvent is supported by the piston 20. In the form of embodiment illustrated in Fig. 1, the elements 23 are impregnated with the solvent which may partially fill the square space in the above described device.

On the side opposite the blind hole 2, the base comprises a threaded recess 24 and a center pin 25 over which is forced an appropriately shaped brush 26, the hairs of which are shown at 27.

The neck 28 of a reservoir formed by a tubular wall 29 and base 3% screws in the recess 24, the three latter parts of the reservoir being imperviously integral and constituting a receptacle for the varnish.

The threaded part of the neck 28 comprises a coneshaped surface 32 pressing on the corresponding surface of the brush 26, the stem of which is made of resilient material forming a joint.

It will be remarked that the external base 33 of the reservoir is fiat, so that the latter may stand upright; it will also be observed that although the assembly is shown in its mounting position in Fig. 1, it may assume any position, in a handbag for instance, with no possibility of leaks, either of the solvent contained in the tubular member since both ends of the latter press on the joints 9 and 16 under the'influence of the cap 13 screwed in the sleeve 11, or of the varnish contained in the said reservoir, the stem of the brush 26 forming an impervious joint with the coneshaped surface 32.

Fig. 2 is a modification showing a base 34 provided with a blind hole 35 in which is held a tube 36 comprising a longitudinal slot 37 extending from A to B constituting a slideway for a pin 38 driven radially into the piston 39.

The tube 36 fits into a tubular member 563 comprising a helical groove 41 on its inner wall in which travels the free end of the pin 38. This member 40, the length of which is designed so that the tube 36 protrudes at 4-2, comprises a flange 43 in which is formed a groove 44, a part 45 of the base 34- being set in this groove. Member 34 comprises in addition an external threaded part 46 in which is screwed the threaded flange 47 of a cap 48. The setting of the base 34, relatively to the member 43 is such, that it will permit a relative rotation of these two members, balls 49 being arranged circularly for facilitating this rotation.

A ring 50, made of resilient material, is mounted between the threaded part 46 and the set part of the base 34 and is compressed between the surface 51 of cap 48 and the flange 43 of member 40.

Flattened elements 52, eventually impregnated with solvent, at the discretion of the user, press against the piston 39 and are guided by the tube 36 until their ejection.

The base 34 is provided on the side opposite the blind hole 35 with a recess in which is accommodated a solvent distributing reservoir assembly; the latter is constituted by a hollow shell 54, made of opaque, transparent, or translucent material having a slight resiliency, which forms also the stem of the brush 55, and a perforated stopper 56 through which slides freely a finger 57 integral with a valve 58 loaded by a spring 59 supported by a washer 6t) integral with the perforated stopper 56.

In addition to the recess 53, the base 34 comprises a threaded part and a groove 62 accommodating a ring 63, made of resilient material on which presses the edge of member 64 screwed on one side into the base 34, and into the neck 65 of a flask 66 on the other.

This member 64 comprises a groove 67 in which is force-fitted the flange 58 of the shell 54 constituting also an impervious joint for the flask 66 containing the stored varnish 68, and its configuration is such that it will press on the tapered opening 69 of the neck 65.

It will be observed that the base of the container 66 is provided with a plurality or protuberances 70 forming supporting means or base on which the device may stand upright.

This being duly considered, the manner in which the device operates will now be described.

The first step when replacing the damaged varnish, will be, referring to the embodiment illustrated in Fig. l, to remove the cap 13 (Fig. 4), and, holding the memher 7 with one hand, to turn the sleeve 11 with the other; this sleeve 11 is secured to the base 1 (Fig. l), and this base is in turn fixed rigidly to the tube 3; the longitudinal slot 6 provided in the latter drives the piston 2%) through the medium of the pin 21 travelling in the helical groove 18 of the member 7. Pin 21 under the relative rotation between the member 7 and the tube 3*, causes a longitudinal displacement of the piston 20 and of the stack of flattened elements 23 relatively to the tube 3, in the direction shown by the arrow f1.

The rotation is maintained until the flattened element 1% protrudes slightly above the member 7. As this member is impregnated with solvent, it may be used as a stump for dissolving and removing the damaged varnish from the nail, this operation being eventually confined to one nail without damaging the others.

The nail once cleaned, the rotation is maintained for ejecting the stained element 19a, the next element coming automatically into operation. The cap 13 is then screwed into the sleeve 11, this sleeve is unscrewed from the receptacle 71 formed by the assembly of the members 28, 29, and 30, uncovering thus the brush which, after dripping, is ready for a new application of varnish (Fig.

The manner in which a soiled pad 19 is ejected is clearly evident from Fig. l of the drawings. Thus, as may be seen from Fig. 1, the top end 17 of the tube 7 has an inwardly extending flange provided with an inner frusto-conical surface which is of a smaller diameter at the outermost end of the tube 7. Thus, as the pads 19 are advanced toward the end 17 of the tube 7, the topmost pad 19 starts out of the tube 7, and it may be used when it is located partly out of the tube 7. After this topmost pad 19 is used and is soiled, then the column of pads is further advanced, and the topmost pad 19 will become compressed with respect to the next pad 19 as the column of pads advance in the direction of arrow f1 indicated in Fig. 1. When the lowermost portion of the topmost pad 19 is engaged by the inwardly extending end portion 17 of the tube 7, this bottommost portion of the pad 19 is compressed inwardly and therefore separates itself from the next pad. After the lowermost portion of the topmost pad 19 advances just beyond the end 17 of the tube 7, there is a sudden expansion of this pad 19 and it therefore liberates itself from the next pad 19, so that in this way automatic ejection of a soiled pad is obtained.

Attention is brought to the fact that the truncated part 32 of the neck 28 is designed. so that the varnish will drip back into the receptacle and not on the outer thread of the said neck.

In the modification illustrated in Figs. 2, 6 and 7, the first operation will consist in unscrewing first the base 34 from the memberl64, and the cap 48 from the base 34. The cap 48 will then be screwed back into the base 34 but in the place formerly dccn ied by the member 64. It will then only be necessary either to let the solvent contained in the reservoir 54 flow onto the nail, pressing and liberating thus the finger 57 of the distributing system described above, and to clean the nail with the flattened dry element visible at 52a, or to impregnate the element 52a in the same manner and to proceed as with the form of embodiment represented in Fig. 1.

As it may be seen in Fig. 7, in order to apply a new coat of varnish, it will only be necessary, to return the cap 48 to its original position, to free the brush from the receptacle 66 by unscrewing the latter relatively to the member 64.

To reload the device, with any form of embodiment, a refill cartridge will be used with advantage. The model illustrated in Figs. 8 and 9 is provided with two stacks of cleansing elements, but this number is in no way limitative.

in this form of embodiment, it comprises a main body 72, in which are arranged two stacks of elements 73, abutting against the end wall 74, provided with two apertures '75 and 76 smaller than the elements 73.

At the other end, a removable cover 78 fits into an enlarged part 77 of the member 72 and comprises a tailpiece 79 constituting a pusher between the two stacks of elements 73.

It will be noted that the widening 77 of the member 72 is such that it will ensure a tight fit of the latter on the free end of the member 7 or 40, and that the cover is designed to ensure an easy removal, protruding parts 80 and 81 being provided for this purpose.

The reloading is efiected in the following manner: having extracted the cover 73 and the tail-piece 79, the refill is mounted on the end of the tube 7 or 40, and, the piston having been previously brought down to its lowest position, the stack of elements 73 is then pushed into the body of the device by means of the tail-piece 79 which at this time is in the position 79a indicated in dot-dash lines in Fig. 8, so that the right column of pads 73 of Fig. 8 may be inserted either into the tube 7 or the tube :0. Of course, when the tail-piece 79 is used for placing the left column of pads of Fig. 8 in one of the tubes 7 or 40, then the tail-piece 79 is located in the opening 75 of Fig. 8.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for dispensing articles such as absorbent pads and the like, comprising, in combination, an elongated outer tube having opposite open ends and being formed on its inner surface with a helical groove; closure means connected to and closing one of said open ends of said outer tube so as to maintain a liquid in the latter; an inner tube located within said outer tube, having an open end distant from said one open end of said outer tube, and being formed with a slot extending along the length thereof; a piston formed with an axial bore passing therethrough and being slidably located in said inner tube distant from said open end thereof; and a pin fixed to said piston, extending through said slot of said inner tube, and engaging said helical groove of said outer tube so that said piston moves along the length of said inner tube upon relative rotation of said inner and outer tubes, whereby a plurality of absorbent pads located in said inner tube on the side of said piston distant from said closure means may be moved out of said inner tube and whereby a liquid in said inner tube may pass through said bore of said piston to absorbent pads, or the like, to be absorbed thereby.

2. Apparatus for dispensing articles such as absorbent pads and the like, comprising, in combination, an elongated outer tube having opposite open ends and being formed on its inner surface with a helical groove; closure means connected to and closing one of said open ends of said outer tube so as to maintain a liquid in the latter; an inner tube located within said outer tube, having an open end distant from said one open end of said outer tube, and being formed with a slot extending along the length thereof; a piston formed with an axial bore passing therethrough and being slidably located in said inner tube distant from said open end thereof; a pin fixed to said piston, extending through said slot of said inner tube, and engaging said helical groove of said outer tube so that said piston moves along the length of said inner tube upon relative rotation of said inner and outer tubes, whereby a plurality of absorbent pads located in said inner tube 011 the side of said piston distant from said closure means may be moved out of said inner tube and whereby a liquid in said inner tube may pass through said bore of said piston to absorbent pads, or the like, to be absorbed thereby; and cover means located about said outer tube and over said open end of said inner tube to cover both of said tubes.

3. Apparatus for dispensing articles such as absorbent pads and the like, comprising, in combination, an elongated outer tube provided at one end with an inwardly extending annular flange defining an opening of a given diameter, said outer tube being formed along its inner face with a helical groove; an elongated inner tube located within said outer tube and having an outer surface rotatably engaging the inner surface of said outer tube, said inner tube being formed with an elongated slot extending along the length thereof and said inner tube having an open end adjacent said inwardly extending flange of said outer tube; means closing the end of said inner tube distant from said open end thereof in a fluidtight manner; a piston formed with an axial bore located slidably within said inner tube; and a pin fixed to said piston and extending therefrom through said slot of said inner tube into said helical groove of said outer tube, whereby a volatile liquid may be located in the space between said closed end of said inner tube and said piston and a plurality of pads to absorb the volatile liquid may be located between said piston and the inwardly extending flange of said outer tube, said diameter of said opening defined by said inwardly extending annular flange being smaller than the inner diameter of said inner tube so that when said tubes are turned one relative to the other so as to advance the piston towards said flange a pad will be forced through said flange and automatically separated from the remainder of the pad.

4. In an apparatus for dispensing articles such as absorbent pads and the like, in combination, an elongated hollow tube formed along its inner surface with a helical groove and having at one end an inwardly extending annular flange having an inner periphery which forms part of a cone and which diminishes in diameter as it approaches the extremity of said tube; closure means connected to and closing the other end of said outer tube, an inner tube located within said outer tube and having an outer surface rotatably engaging the inner surface of said outer tube, said inner tube having an inner diameter larger than the smallest diameter of said inwardly extending annular flange of said outer tube and said inner tube being formed with an elongated slot extending along the length thereof; a piston located within and slidably engaging the inner face of said inner tube; and a pin fixed to said piston, extending through said slot, and having a free end portion located within said groove of said outer tube, whereby a volatile liquid may be located in the inner tube between said closure means and said piston and a plurality of pads to absorb the volatile liquid may be located between said piston and said inwardly extending flange of said outer tube so that when said tubes are turned one with respect to the other said piston will advance axially along said tubes and said pads will be moved toward said flange and a pad which moves through said flange will be automatically separated from the remainder of said pads.

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